Hydraulic cement and method of producing same

ABSTRACT

Ground mixtures of conventional Portland cement-making components are mixed with relatively small amounts of boroncontaining components, and the mixtures are burned at kiln temperatures substantially below those normally utilized to form clinker. The resultant clinker is more easily grindable than that produced in conventional processes of Portland cement production, and the cement resulting from the grinding of the clinker yields cementitious products possessing substantially higher compressive strength than is exhibited by Portland cement made from the same components in the absence of the boron-containing component.

AL! 115 EX United States Patent [1 1 Slater, deceased et al.

[45} Jan. 21, 1975 HYDRAULIC CEMENT AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME [75] Inventors: Thomas C. Slater, deceased, late of Sutter Creek, Calif. Vivian Slater, Executrix, Sutter Creek, Califi; Floyd C. Hamilton, Jr., Louisville,

{73] Assignee: The Flintkote Company, White Plains, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Aug. 4, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 277,969

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 85,776, Oct. 30, 1970, Pat. No. 3,682,669, which is a continuation-in-part of Scr. No. 70,596, Sept. 8, I970, abandoned, which is a continuation of Scr. No. 652,275, July 10, 1967, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 106/89, 106/100 [51] Int. Cl. C04b 7/00, C04b 7/02 [58] Field of Search 106/100, 89

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,663,286 5/1972 Barrau 106/89 3,682,669 8/1972 Slat/er et al. 106/100 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 938,761 10/1963 Great Britain 106/100 873,756 7/1961 Great Britain 106/100 240,662 9/1960 Australia 106/100 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Lea, F. M. & Desch, C. H., The Chemistry of Cement and Concrete, Edw. Arnold Publishers, London, 1956, pp. 114-117.

Orchard, D. F., Concrete Technology, Vol. I, John Wiley & Sons, 1973, pp. 6-7.

Taylor, H. F. W., The Chemistry of Cements, Vol. II, Academic Press, New York, 1964, pp. 406-407.

Primary Examiner-J. Poer Assistant Examiner.lames W. Hellwege Attorney, Agent, or FirmCurtis, Morris & Safford, P.C.; Garo A. Partoyan [57] ABSTRACT 32 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED JANZI I975 SHEET 10F 6 oommw 0pm oomwm oommm oomvm oOmmN oommm coma iNBOHBd awn 33am PATENTED JANZI I975 SHEEI ROF 6 4 vs-ue v-zl FIG. 4

PATENTEB JAN 2 1 I975 SHEET 5 OF 6.

FIG. 5

PATENTEI] JANZI I975 SHEET 6 OF 6 FIG. 6

HYDRAULIC CEMENT AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 85,776 filed Oct. 30, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,669, which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 70,596 filed Sept. 8, 1970 under Commissioner's Order 824 0.6. l, which in turn was a continuation of parent application Ser. No. 652,275 filed July 10, 1967, the latter two being now abandoned.

The field of art to which the present invention per tains is the making of Portland-type cement.

The invention relates particularly to Portland-type cement and production thereof, and provides a method that, inter alia, results in a substantial savings in fuel and other operating costs and yields Portland-type cement that form products of substantially higher than normal compressive strengths.

in the conventional commercial practice for producing Portland cement, certain proportions of crushed calcium carbonate, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide and ferric oxide are pulverized, either in dry or slurry form. The ground mixture is burned in a kiln, usually of the rotary type, to form solid clinker that is pulverized with a small amount of gypsum to form the cement.

It is well recognized in the art that the operation of the kiln for forming clinker accounts for one of the largest single elements in the cost of producing Portland cement.

The ground mixture must be burned at a temperature sufficiently high both to promote reaction in the solid state and to bring about fusion of the components, and thus to form clinker. The clinker is composed of calcium silicates, calcium aluminates, and calcium alumino-ferrites, which constitute the hydraulically settable ingredients of cement formed by grinding the clinker.

Theoretically, the incipient fusion leading to the formation of the above-mentioned compounds can occur at a temperature of about 1338C. (2440F.). The formation of clinker is influenced by the amount of liquid formed in the fusion, which is governed by the amount of aluminum oxide and iron oxide in the ground mixture.

In the actual commercial operation utilizing rotary kilns at practical production rates, the residence or retention time of the material in the kiln at the abovementioned minimum theoretical temperature is not long enough for the complete reactions to take place. Thus higher temperatures must be used to accelerate and complete the reactions between the components of the mix.

As indicated, for example, in the patents to Case, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,004,463 ofJune ll, 1935, to Dyckerhoff, 2,970,925 of Feb. 7, 1961, and to Schifferle, 3,066,031 of Nov. 27, 1962, kiln temperatures of l400C. to l450C. (2550F to 2650F.) are commonly utilized in commercial operations for forming cement clinker, although currently higher temperatures are usually used.

It is also well recognized in the prior art that the clinker produced by present commercial operations is difficult to grind into a powder suitable for use as cement.

Stated in general terms, the present invention makes possible the production of Portland-type cement clinker at temperatures substantially lower than those pres- 5 mentitious compositions that possess compressive strengths superior to those exhibited by Portland cement as presently commercially produced.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by incorporating into the ground mix of ingredients conventionally employed for the production of Portland cement, namely, limestone, silica. alumina and iron oxide, a relatively small portion of an additive material consisting essentially of a boroncontaining component, and burning the mixture thus Umnal Portland cement kiln.

LII

III

It has been found that the inclusion of such an additive as a component of the mix makes possible the formation of cement clinker at temperatures of about 2350F. to about 2550F. at about the same kiln retention time as in conventional processes. Clinker produced in this manner has improved grindability characteristics as indicated, for example, by less energy being needed to grind the clinker to a given surface area. The compressive strength of Portland-type cement produced as described herein is substantially higher than the compressive strength of cement made from the same components but without the boron-containing component.

The curve of the accompanying drawing, FIG. 1, shows the relationship between the kiln burning temperature and the amountof free lime in clinker made in accordance with this invention.

To produce Portland-type cement according to this invention, there is first formed by conventional procedures a pulverized mixture of raw materials composed of minerals containing calcium oxide, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide and iron oxide. Limestone can be utilized as the source of calcium oxide. Silicon dioxide can be supplied in the form of sand, clay or shale, which can also be the source of aluminum oxide. The source of iron oxide can be mill scale, a by-product of steel mills, pyrite cinders, a by-product of sulfuric acid production, or iron ore. iron oxide also is usually present in the raw materials used as the source of silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide. The raw materials are care fully proportioned and blended to maintain the relative proportions of the oxides within certain desired limits, in accordance with well-known practice, to produce cement having desired properties and characteristics. Typically, a Portland cement has about 60 percent to percent of lime as CaO, about 20 percent to 25 percent of silicate as $0,, about 2 percent to 6 percent of iron oxide as Fe,O and about 3 percent to 8 percent of alumina as M 0 The pulverized mixture of the raw materials normally requires a burning temperature of the order of 2750F. in the kiln to be transformed into a cement clinker composed of desired percentage amounts of calcium silicate, calcium aluminate and calcium alumino-ferrite reaction products. In accordance with the present invention, however, a cement clinker containing the above-mentioned reaction products is formed at substantially lower burning temperatures in the kiln, namely, at temperatures of about 2350F. to about 25S0F. This is achieved by incorporating a relatively small amount of a boron-containing material into the pulverized mixture of the raw materials fed to the kiln.

The boron-containing additive is intimately blended and intermixed with the raw pulverized mixture, or can be interground in the initial grinding process, and the material thus blended is fed to the kiln for burning into clinker.

The presence of the boron-containing component in the raw material fed into the kiln enables the raw material to be transformed into a highly satisfactory clinker at temperatures substantially lower than those normally required for mixtures without the boron-containing additive. Moreover, the resultant clinker possesses improved grindability and yields a pulverized cement that forms concrete and other cementitious compositions having superior compressive strengths.

During burning of the conventional mixture, the rate and degree of completion of formation of the calcium silicate and calcium aluminate reaction products, particularly tricalcium silicate, is indicated by the amount of uncombined calcium oxide (CaO), so-called free lime," present in the clinker. If the amount of free lime in the clinker exceeds about 2 percent by weight, the resultant cement might be unsatisfactory, particularly in that such cement is susceptible to excessive expansion.

By including the boron-containing additive in the raw materials fed to the kiln, the clinker not only is formed at temperatures that are substantially below those conventionally required, but does not contain undesired amounts of free lime. Clinker having a satisfactory free lime content of about 2 percent or less can be obtained at kiln temperatures in the range of about 2350F. to about 2550F. At kiln temperatures below that range, undesired amounts of free lime tend to be present in the clinker; at kiln temperatures above that range, the clinker might contain an undesired amount of free lime.

The composition of cement clinker produced according to this invention is different from that of conventional Portland cements. The hydraulically settable calcium silicates in ordinary Portland cements are tricalcium silicate, called Alite and referred to as C 8, and the beta form of dicalcium silicate, called Belite and referred to as C,S. By weight of the clinker, the tricalcium silicate is typically present in an amount of about 30 percent to 35 percent in Type IV to about 60 percent to 65 percent in Type Ill, and the beta-dicalcium silicate is typically present in an amount of about 40 percent to 45 percent in Type IV to about percent to percent in Type Ill. Together, these two constituents normally comprise about 70 percent to about 85 percent of the clinker in all of Types l to V Portland cement.

Cement according to this invention, on the other hand, is characterized by the presence of dicalcium silicate in its alpha-prime form, which can be referred to as a C,S, and also by the presence of borate which appears to be dissolved with lime in the a C,S silicate phase of the clinker in a ratio of five mols of CaO per mol of 8,0,. a C,S can be present in varying amounts and should be the major constituent of the clinker. From raw materials ordinarily used to make Portland cement the a C,S preferably is present in an amount of about 65 percent to about 85 percent by weight. The amounts of potential C,S and beta C,S compounds that would otherwise form are reduced, and usually appear to be present in such small amounts,

if at all, that they cannot readily be identified by x-ray diffraction.

With the foregoing differences in mind,-the Bogue equations can be used to compute potential clinker compound composition from oxide analysis of the raw feed mix. Tetracalcium aluminoferrite (CAP) and tricalcium aluminate (C A) are calculated as usual, or

C,S is calculated on the total silicate content, and the l borate is calculated at a ratio of 5 mols of CaO per mol of 8,0,. Zero tricalcium silicate (C 5) is assumed in the i calculation. The lime content of the raw mix preferably should be about 0.5 percent in excess of theoretical for complete formation of the potential clinker compounds.

The boron-containing additive used in the practice of this invention is an oxide of boron, a compound containing an oxide of boron or a compound that yields an oxide of boron at the temperatures prevailing in a cement kiln. Examples of such boron-containing additives are boric acid anhydride, acids of boric acid anhydride, salts of boric acid anhydride, polyboric acids and polyborates such as diborates, triborates and tetraborates of ammonium, sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, strontium and magnesium, and boron-containing refined and unrefined minerals or ores, including colemanite, ulexite, danburite, pinnoite, ascherite and rasorite. Boron trioxide (B 0 raw colemanite and refined colemanite are perferred. The quantity of the boron-containing additives incorporated in the pulverized mixture of raw ingredients fed to the kiln relatively small. An amount sufficient to provide a B 0 content in the range of about 1 percent to about 3 percent by weight of the pulverized mixture, preferably about 1.5 percent to about 2.5 percent, should be used, which amounts approximately can then be found in the clinker.

In an actual embodiment of the invention, a modified typical Type 11 Portland cement pulverized mix was made up with the following components:

Cataract Limestone 72.58% Cataract Shale 16.60 Winship Clay 3.67 Pyrite Cinders 2.39 Special Additive No. l 4 76 A. Modified" l00.00%

Special Additive No. 1 contained:

SiO, 8.00% Na,0 5.l9% Fe,0, 0.19 K,0 0.23 A10, 0.35 8.0, 36.13 CaO .66 lgn. Loss 32 57 M30 2.67 Total 99.99%

Thus, the mix had the following calculated composition:

SiO, 22.55%

Fe O, 4.45

CaO 64.85

Batches of the foregoing A. Modified mix were burned at various temperatures for a period of time equal to a typical Portland cement kiln retention time at normal operation temperature of about 2800F. The

clinker prepared from each such batch contained the following amount of free lime:

Burn Temperature F. Free Lime The curve of the accompanying drawing, FIG. 1, is based on the above-tabulated data, and clearly shows that clinker having a desirably low level of free lime can be prepared at burn temperatures in the range of about 2350F. to about 2550F., a range of temperature markedly lower than the temperatures usually employed to make Portland cement clinker having satisfactory low free lime content.

The production of a satisfactory cement clinker thus is possible at reduced kiln temperatures, and substantial savings in fuel cost as well as other benefits can be obtained. Fuel savings that amount to the order of about 300,000 BTU per barrel of cement clinker produced have been calculated. Also, by virtue of the lower temperatures utilized in the kiln operation, longer kiln shell life and less frequent replacement of the refractory lining of the kiln are benefits that result in substantially reduced kiln maintenance cost. This cost reduction has been estimated to be in the order of about percent.

In addition to and perhaps even more important than the foregoing advantages accruing from the use of the described boron-containing additives in accordance Cataract Limestone 76.21% Cataract Shale 17.43 \Vinship Clay 3.85 Pyrite Cinders 2 5 A. Control" 100.00%

SiO, 22.50% A|,o, 5.89 Fe O, 4.52 CaO 65 .17

The free lime content of the clinker was 0.72 percent.

Compressive strength tests (ASTM Test C 109-64) were conducted on mortar cubes 2 inches X 2 inches X 2 inches made of the A. Control cement described above and the A. Modified cement according to this invention from clinker burned at 2450F. The cubes were kept in a cabinet in which the atmosphere was controlled at 70F. and 100 percent relative humidity. The compressive strength of the cubes was tested after 7 and 28 days. The following table presents the results obtained and various factors involved in making the tests for the cements described above and also for another cement according to this invention (8. Modifled") to be described:

As gypsum 10 make cement.

The B. Modified cement was prepared from a raw material mix containing 95.24 parts by weight of the A. Control cement raw material mix and 4.76 of Special Additive No. l, and had a calculated composition as follows:

SiO, 21.40% 8,0, 1.54%

Fe O, 4.30 Na,0 026 A1 0, 5.60 lnsol. 0.82

CaO 63.57 H,O O 32 Total 98.31%

Clinker was formed by burning the raw mix at 2550F. for about 30 minutes, and had a free lime content of about 2.17 percent.

Compressive strength tests of steam-cured mortar cubes were made using a cement modified according to this invention (C. Modified) and an unmodified typical Type 11 pipe cement as a control (13. Control").

The C. Modified cement was made from clinker formed at a burning temperature of about 2650 F. for about 30 minutes from a raw mix of 6.79 parts of Special Additive No. 2 (unrefined Kern County colemanite containing 34.11 percent B 0 and 93.21 parts of the B. Control mix. The clinker from this raw mix had a calculated analysis of:

sio, 22.63%

Fe,O, 4.37

CaO 64.79

l .87 C. Modified" 99.37%

The clinker had a free lime content of about 1.93 percent.

As a control cement, the B. Control mix was burned at 2800F., about 1.48 percent free lime, ground and used. The B. Control cement had an analyzed composition as follows:

' SiO, 21.96% Fe o, 3.28 Al O, 4.80 CaO 64.87 S0,. 2 .38 "B. Control" 97.29%

Added as about 5% gypsum.

Cubes were made from mortar containing 1982 grams of sand and 793 grams of the B. Control cement and the C. Modified cement, and were cured for 20 hours in a cabinet maintained at 165F. with steam. Thereafter, the cubes were placed in a cabinet at 70F. and 100 percent relative humidity, and compressive strength tests were made on the cubes after 14 hours, 7 days and 28 days. The following tabulation sets forth the strengths and other factors associated with this test:

C. Modified B. Control Flow Consistency H,O) 38 41 Water Added (cc) 300 325 Flow Reading 73.5 7L5 Blaine Fineness 3662 4014 Initial Set (hr.:min.) 2:30

Final Set (hr.:min) 7:00 4:25 Compressive Strength;

14 hrs. (psi) 5350 5525 7 days (psi) 7438 6462 28 days (psi) 9300 7412 Compressive strength tests were also conducted on concrete cylinders (ASTM Test C192-6S) made from a Type II Portland cement modified according to this invention (D. Modified) and an unmodified Type II cement (C.Control). The clinker used to make the D. Modified cement had an analysis of:

SiO: 24.46%

FC O 3.96

1 l .97 "D. Modified 98.26%

and contained 1.60 percent free lime after burning at about 2S00F. in a kiln for a usual kiln retention time of about 30 minutes. The raw material mix contained about 2.0 percent of B 0 supplied as boron trioxide. The C. Control cement, which contained l.12 percent free lime, analyzed as:

SiO, 22.02%

CaO 64.67

2 .09 C. Control" 97.12%

Added as about 5% gypsum.

C. Control D. Modified 7 days (psi) 2420 3080 14 days (psi) 3400 4375 From the foregoing data based on compressive strength tests, it is evident that cements made with the boron-containing additives according to this invention have s gnificantly greater strength, even though made at markedly lower kiln burning temperatures, than Type II Portland cements.

To determine the nature of the compounds in the clinker made according to the instant invention, various samples of clinker made as described herein were subjected to x-ray diffraction analysis. For comparison, a commercial Type II Portland cement was also analyzed; it had the following content:

SiO, 22.94 Fe O 3.47 AI,O 4.95 C210 6693 "C. Control" 98.29

FIG. 2 shows the pertinent section of the x-ray diffraction chart of the analysis, from which can readily be seen the characteristic peaks at angle Z-theta of 293 for C 8, 34.3 for beta- C S, 322 and 326 for both C 5 and beta- C S, 33.2 for QA and 33.8 for C AF. The distinct appearance of these values is characteristic of all of Types I to V Portland cement.

By contrast, FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show characteristic peaks at 32.4 and 33.2 for a C S, 33.2 also for C A and 338 for C AF, but no discernible values at 29.3 for C -,S or at 34.3 for beta C 8.

FIG. 3 is based on analysis of the D. Modified clinker described previously herein.

FIG. 4 is the analysis of clinker burned at 2550F.. free lime of 0.07 percent, that contained in the raw mix 3.29 percent B 0 from 9.09 percent of Special Additive No. l. Cement made with this clinker and 3.74 percent gypsum had the following analysis:

SiO: 24.447: F3 0; 2.93 A1 0; 4.59 CaO 59.78 Not determined SO; N3 0 0.54 K10 0 .32

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the x-ray diffraction analysis of clinker made from raw mix containing 97 parts having the following composition:

SiO, 23.06%

CaO 67 .60

and 3 parts of boric acid anhydride. The clinker of FIG. 5 was burned at 2350F. and that of FIG. 6 at 2450F.; the free limes were 1.76 percent and 1.05 percent, respectively.

It has also been found, quite surprisingly, that cement clinker produced in accordance with the invention is more readily grindable than is clinker as normally produced, i.e., without inclusion of the boron-containing component in the mix. Tests indicative of the grindability of the instant clinker as compared with clinker as normally produced were conducted in jar mills following procedures commonly accepted in the art, namely, by determining the Blaine surface area of the ground clinker at various stages of grinding. In specific terms, actual tests have shown that, by virtue of the improved grindability of clinker embodying this invention, production of the ground cement from such clinker can be increased approximately 140 percent to 200 percent.

For example, one cement made from clinker embodying this inveniton had a Blaine surface area of 3600 sq. cm. per gram after 4080 revolutions of a jar mill, whereas a comparable clinker as normally produced required 6120 revolutions to produce cement of substantially the same Blaine surface area (3590 sq. cm. per gram).

In another grindability test, the clinker of the D. Modified cement described above and a clinker corresponding thereto but produced without a boroncontaining additive were ground. The latter clinker had the following analyzed composition:

SiO, 23.52%

CaO 66.46

Free Lime 92 D. Control" 99.32%

3,000 grams of each clinker were ground with 3.5 cc. of Zeemill grinding aid, 6.0 cc. of water and 90 grams of gypsum for the D. Control and 71 grams of gypsum for the D. Modified. To achieve a Blaine surface area of about 4,000 sq. cm. per gram, a fineness to which pipe cement is commonly ground, the D. Modified clinker required about 10,700 revolutions of the mill whereas the D. Control clinker required about 22,900 revolutions.

These grinding data demonstrate the remarkably improved grindability of clinker made in accordance with this invention.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that numerous changes can be made in the ingredients, conditions and proportions set forth in the foregoing illustrative embodiments without departing from the invention as described herein before and as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A hydraulic cement composition containing alphaprime dicalcium silicate as a hydraulically settable calcium siiicate in an amount by weight of about 65 percent to about 85 percent of said composition.

2. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 1 substantially free from tricalcium silicate and from beta dicalcium silicate.

3. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 1 wherein the amount of free lime is less than about 2 percent by weight of said composition.

4. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 1 further containing borate.

5. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 4 wherein said borate calculated as B 0; is about 1 percent to about 3 percent by weight of said composition.

6. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 5 wherein said borate is in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.

7. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 5 wherein said borate is 8,0; in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.

8. A Portland-type cement composition containing alpha-prime dicalcium silicate as a hydraulically settable calcium silicate in an amount by weight greater than the amount by weight of any other constituent in said composition.

9. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 8 wherein said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate is about 65 percent to about percent by weight of said composition.

10. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 8 substantially free from tricalcium silicate and from beta dicalcium silicate.

11. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 8 wherein the amount of free lime is less than about 2 percent by weight of said composition.

12. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 8 further containing borate.

13. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 12 wherein said borate calculated as B 0 is about 1 percent to about 3 percent by weight of said composition.

14. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 13 wherein said borate is in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.

15. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 13 wherein said borate is B 0 in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.

16. A hydraulic cement composition containing tricalcium aluminate, tetracalcium aluminoferrite and alpha-prime dicalcium silicate as hydraulically settable components and being substantially free from tricalcium silicate, and wherein said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate is present in an amount by weight greater than the amount by weight of either said aluminat e or aluminoferrite.

17. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 16 wherein said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate is about 65 percent to about 85 percent by weight of said composition.

18. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 16 substantially free from beta dicalcium silicate.

19. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 16 wherein the amount of free lime is less than about 2 percent by weight of said composition.

20. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 16 further containing borate.

21. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 20 wherein said borate calculated as B 0 is about 1 percent to about 3 percent by weight of said composition.

22. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 21 wherein said borate is in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.

23. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 21 wherein said borate is 3:0; in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.

24. A method of making a Portland-type hydraulic cement that contains alpha-prime dicalcium silicate as a hydraulically settable calcium silicate which comprises forming an admixture of pulverized limecontaining material, silicon oxide-containing material, aluminum oxidecontaining material, iron oxidecontaining material and a boron-containing substance sufficient to provide at least about 1% by weight of B 0; in said admixture, proportioning the amounts of said materials in said admixture stoichiometrically on the basis of potential tricalcium aluminate, tetracalcium aluminoferrite and alpha-prime dicalcium silicate compounds and borate at a ratio of five mols of calcium oxide per mol of B 0 heating said admixture to fuse the components thereof into clinker and to form said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate in an amount greater than the amount of any other constituent, and grinding said clinker.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein said boroncontaining substance is an oxide of boron, a compound containing an oxide of boron or a compound that yields an oxide of boron at the temperatures prevailing in a cement kiln.

26. A method according to claim 24 wherein said boroncontaining substance is boric acid anhydride, an

acid of boric acid anhydride, a salt of boric acid anhydride, a polyboric acid, a polyborate of ammonium, sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, strontium or magnesium, a boron-containing mineral or a boroncontaining ore.

27. A method according to claim 24 wherein said boron-containing substance is boron trioxide, raw colemanite or refined colemanite.

28. A method according to claim 24 wherein the amount of said boron-containing substance as B 0 is in the range of about 1 percent to about 3 percent.

29. A method according to claim 24 wherein said pulverized materials are limestone, silica, alumina and iron oxide.

30. A method according to claim 24 wherein said admixture is heated at above about 2350F.

31. A method according to claim 24 wherein said admixture is heated at below about 2750F.

32. A method according to claim 24 wherein said admixture is heated at between about 2350F. and about 2550F. 

2. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 1 substantially free from tricalcium silicate and from beta dicalcium silicate.
 3. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 1 wherein the amount of free lime is less than about 2 percent by weight of said composition.
 4. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 1 further containing borate.
 5. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 4 wherein said borate calculated as B2O3 is about 1 percent to about 3 percent by weight of said composition.
 6. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 5 wherein said borate is in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.
 7. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 5 wherein said borate is B2O3 in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.
 8. A Portland-type cement composition containing alpha-prime dicalcium silicate as a hydraulically settable calcium silicate in an amount by weight greater than the amount by weight of any other constituent in said composition.
 9. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 8 wherein said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate is about 65 percent to about 85 percent by weight of said composition.
 10. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 8 substantially free from tricalcium silicate and from beta dicalcium silicate.
 11. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 8 wherein the amount of free lime is less than about 2 percent by weight of said composition.
 12. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 8 further containing borate.
 13. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 12 wherein said borate calculated as B2O3 is about 1 percent to about 3 percent by weight of said composition.
 14. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 13 wherein said borate is in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.
 15. A Portland-type cement composition according to claim 13 wherein said borate is B2O3 in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.
 16. A hydraulic cement composition containing tricalcium aluminate, tetracalcium aluminoferrite and alpha-prime dicalcium silicate as hydraulically settable components and being substantially free from tricalcium silicate, and wherein said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate is present in an amount by weight greater than the amount bY weight of either said aluminate or aluminoferrite.
 17. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 16 wherein said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate is about 65 percent to about 85 percent by weight of said composition.
 18. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 16 substantially free from beta dicalcium silicate.
 19. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 16 wherein the amount of free lime is less than about 2 percent by weight of said composition.
 20. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 16 further containing borate.
 21. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 20 wherein said borate calculated as B2O3 is about 1 percent to about 3 percent by weight of said composition.
 22. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 21 wherein said borate is in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.
 23. A hydraulic cement composition according to claim 21 wherein said borate is B2O3 in solid solution in said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate.
 24. A method of making a Portland-type hydraulic cement that contains alpha-prime dicalcium silicate as a hydraulically settable calcium silicate which comprises forming an admixture of pulverized lime-containing material, silicon oxide-containing material, aluminum oxidecontaining material, iron oxide-containing material and a boron-containing substance sufficient to provide at least about 1% by weight of B2O3 in said admixture, proportioning the amounts of said materials in said admixture stoichiometrically on the basis of potential tricalcium aluminate, tetracalcium aluminoferrite and alpha-prime dicalcium silicate compounds and borate at a ratio of five mols of calcium oxide per mol of B2O3, heating said admixture to fuse the components thereof into clinker and to form said alpha-prime dicalcium silicate in an amount greater than the amount of any other constituent, and grinding said clinker.
 25. A method according to claim 24 wherein said boroncontaining substance is an oxide of boron, a compound containing an oxide of boron or a compound that yields an oxide of boron at the temperatures prevailing in a cement kiln.
 26. A method according to claim 24 wherein said boroncontaining substance is boric acid anhydride, an acid of boric acid anhydride, a salt of boric acid anhydride, a polyboric acid, a polyborate of ammonium, sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, strontium or magnesium, a boron-containing mineral or a boroncontaining ore.
 27. A method according to claim 24 wherein said boron-containing substance is boron trioxide, raw colemanite or refined colemanite.
 28. A method according to claim 24 wherein the amount of said boron-containing substance as B2O3 is in the range of about 1 percent to about 3 percent.
 29. A method according to claim 24 wherein said pulverized materials are limestone, silica, alumina and iron oxide.
 30. A method according to claim 24 wherein said admixture is heated at above about 2350*F.
 31. A method according to claim 24 wherein said admixture is heated at below about 2750*F.
 32. A method according to claim 24 wherein said admixture is heated at between about 2350*F. and about 2550*F. 